Monday, July 21, 2008

Philmont

We went and attended the LDS Leadership Training at Philmont Scout Camp in Cimarron, New Mexico. The cool thing is that my folks were also there, Jeff and Sandy's family, and Mike and Connie's family.
We also saw Charles Dahlquist - the Young Men's General President, Vicki Matsumori - 2nd Counselor in the General Primary Presidency and Linda Christensen - General Primary Board member. So of course we got pictures with them.

Outside our tent

Family photo after Church

3 Generations of Scouters

Kerr and her cousins Madison and Rachel

Family by the famous Philmont covered wagon


Kids in their costumes before the Family Parade
Mitchell was a forest Ranger (like Robin Hood, Aragorn, Faramir), Kerr was a Butterfly, and Kenzie was "I Dream of Jeannie", wait, I mean, Aphrodite, goddess of Love and Beauty.

Kenzie dancing with this guy at the Western Dance. His name was Sasquatch. Weird, huh?

We did a way-early morning hike up Lover's Leap. From there we could see the fabled [Buck]Tooth of Time, or [Snaggle]Tooth of Time if you prefer. Mike has always wanted to hike it to earn a patch but has never been able. It was closed so maybe next time, Miko!


Here are the Scouters with Pres Dahlquist


Kenzie and Sis Matsumori


Mitchell and Sisters Matsumori and Christensen


Mitchell and Pres Dahlquist


Kerrigan and Sisters Matsumori and Christensen


Big family photo by the Philmont wagon


Mitchell was able to participate in a camp flag-raising ceremony one morning. It was a good experience for him.


This was cool. This is the only fossilized footprint from a T-rex in North America.


Dad bought all the adults these hand-crafted bolo ties


Sonya and me with Bill Burch who carved our bolo ties


Here are the Woodbadgers
...Back to Gilwell, happy land, I'm going to punch my brother if I can...


Good Memories


It was a great time. But hands-down, the funniest moment was, next to watching Mike brown-nose Chuck, I mean, Pres Dahlquist, after the closing ceremonies to get a hug, [surprise, surprise] while gathered around the camp-lantern late one night watching Mike lean waaay in to tell the Ross Ashcroft grandpa knife-murderer ghost story to Sonya after getting mad at me and Jeff for spoiling the mood and Jeff sneaking around and grabbing his rib with the Lake Windemere Talon! I think he roused the entire camp with his yell! Priceless!


Garden of the Gods


On the way home from Philmont, we stopped in Colorado Springs to climb around







Rock Wall


Climbing at Longmont Rec Center:
Mitchell

Sonya

Me

Kerr

Me doing a flip off the diving board


RockBand


OK, who are we kidding? The best part of the trip, having Uncle Mike come and get RockBand as a homewarming gift for us! Everyone needs an Uncle Mike; even if he thinks your powdered milk tastes funny and the tomatoes don't smell fresh enough.